Yesterday there was a birthday party at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel for their lovely canine ambassadors Catie, who turned 14, and Carly, who is now 5. While you may have missed the party, the girls will be happy to see you anytime you stop by.
You'll often find them assisting the doormen at the St. James Avenue entrance right across from Copley Square Park. Since they get so many treats and so much love each day, the girls asked the hotel to make the following announcement for those who want to wish them a happy birthday.
"In lieu of gifts for the hotel’s pampered pooches, we invite guests to bring a donation of towels, blankets or toys for the dogs and cats at the Animal Rescue League’s Boston Shelter." You'll find a wishlist at that link and the shelter address where you can drop the gifts or you can even send the gifts directly from Amazon.
And, if you are looking for a gift for someone who adores dogs, may we suggest Catie Copley's Books.
Thanks to Adam Castiglioni and his Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog for bringing this milestone to our attention with his announcement of the party. You'll find more photos of these beautiful Labs at this link.
Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.
Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.
Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on Christmas, December 25, 2015, plus information on: trash collection, parking, MBTA schedule changes, and whatever else we were able to gather to answer your Chrismas week questions.
Remember, many businesses close early on Christmas Eve. Call before you leave, if you plan to visit a business on the 24th.
Welcome to all of you who have found BostonZest.com while looking for this information. We hope you'll look around at the other resources we provide, subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, and come back often.
City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed:This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service. Only emergency services are available.
Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. When we have official hours for the Tow Lot over the holiday, we'll update this section. Call before going on Christmas eve or Chistmas day.
Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.
Trash Collection & Recycling
Boston Trash Collection for Christmas– The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now have to go to thecity site and look up your specific addressin order to get information.
MBTA Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Schedule Changes:
MBTA Christmas Eve Schedule is a regular weekday schedule
Thursday, December 25, 2015– MBTA Christmas Day Schedule (Quick Look)
• Blue, Orange, Green, Red, Silver Lines and Mattapan trolley will operate on a Sunday schedule.
• Buses will run on a Sunday schedule, however some routes will not operate on Christmas day. See those details here.
• Commuter rail trains will operate on a Sunday schedule (which means some lines will not operate).
• Hingham, Hull, and Charlestown boat service will not operate.
• THE RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule.
For additional information on MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call MBTA Customer Support at (617) 222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (TTY 617-222-5146)," or visit the MBTA website.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on Christmas, December 25, 2015, plus information on: trash collection, parking, MBTA schedule changes, and whatever else we were able to gather to answer your Chrismas week questions.
Remember, many businesses close early on Christmas Eve. Call before you leave, if you plan to visit a business on the 24th.
Welcome to all of you who have found BostonZest.com while looking for this information. We hope you'll look around at the other resources we provide, subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, and come back often.
City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed:This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service. Only emergency services are available.
Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. When we have official hours for the Tow Lot over the holiday, we'll update this section. Call before going on Christmas eve or Chistmas day.
Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.
Trash Collection & Recycling
Boston Trash Collection for Christmas– The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now have to go to thecity site and look up your specific addressin order to get information.
MBTA Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Schedule Changes:
MBTA Christmas Eve Schedule is a regular weekday schedule
Thursday, December 25, 2015– MBTA Christmas Day Schedule (Quick Look)
• Blue, Orange, Green, Red, Silver Lines and Mattapan trolley will operate on a Sunday schedule.
• Buses will run on a Sunday schedule, however some routes will not operate on Christmas day. See those details here.
• Commuter rail trains will operate on a Sunday schedule (which means some lines will not operate).
• Hingham, Hull, and Charlestown boat service will not operate.
• THE RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule.
For additional information on MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call MBTA Customer Support at (617) 222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (TTY 617-222-5146)," or visit the MBTA website.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Attention Back Bay neighbors! We have a temporary source of shellfish at 142 Newbury Street (map.) Ed's favorite Island Creek Oysters are available to take home or ship to a lucky gift recipient through January 2nd.
Just a few steps East of Dartmouth Street, you'll find this cheerful store front.
Down the stairs is an icy display of fresh shellfish. On my visit, there were razor clams, oysters, and more.
In addition to giving live seafood, you might also find a gift for your oyster lover from their display of shellfish and Island Creek related products.
Here's hoping these good folks have a successful season and pave the way for more food shops in the neighborhood.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Attention Back Bay neighbors! We have a temporary source of shellfish at 142 Newbury Street (map.) Ed's favorite Island Creek Oysters are available to take home or ship to a lucky gift recipient through January 2nd.
Just a few steps East of Dartmouth Street, you'll find this cheerful store front.
Down the stairs is an icy display of fresh shellfish. On my visit, there were razor clams, oysters, and more.
In addition to giving live seafood, you might also find a gift for your oyster lover from their display of shellfish and Island Creek related products.
Here's hoping these good folks have a successful season and pave the way for more food shops in the neighborhood.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
What’s so great about coffee? Besides the fact that many of us can’t start or survive the day without it, there has to be more to this all but magical drink than just the caffeine.
There’s the unmistakable aroma of fresh brewed coffee in the morning. The close your eyes, “mmm …” after that first sip. And, the shameless excuse it provides to take a much needed break anytime of day.
While all of that works for me, there’s also “the look” of coffee, especially as it’s being prepared. Tearing open a package of freshly roasted beans and watching those glistening nuggets of goodness cascade into the grinder bin is not to be dismissed lightly. I should explain.
In our home, we’ve been ordering coffee beans from the same company, Beanstock Coffee, for years. These guys roast their coffee, “… locally, in small batches and always to order.” Because we love robust, dark roast coffee, our favorite is the Black Fish Creek Blend that they describe best as, “… “Very dark and smooth without being burnt and finishing with subtle berry notes.”
After grinding, and before brewing, there’s another beauty shot moment of a fresh mound of tiny ground granules that’s quickly upstaged by its intoxicating fragrance.
Gorgeous coffee beans – that shouldn’t be overlooked – on their way to becoming an outstanding cup of joe.
What’s so great about coffee? Besides the fact that many of us can’t start or survive the day without it, there has to be more to this all but magical drink than just the caffeine.
There’s the unmistakable aroma of fresh brewed coffee in the morning. The close your eyes, “mmm …” after that first sip. And, the shameless excuse it provides to take a much needed break anytime of day.
While all of that works for me, there’s also “the look” of coffee, especially as it’s being prepared. Tearing open a package of freshly roasted beans and watching those glistening nuggets of goodness cascade into the grinder bin is not to be dismissed lightly. I should explain.
In our home, we’ve been ordering coffee beans from the same company, Beanstock Coffee, for years. These guys roast their coffee, “… locally, in small batches and always to order.” Because we love robust, dark roast coffee, our favorite is the Black Fish Creek Blend that they describe best as, “… “Very dark and smooth without being burnt and finishing with subtle berry notes.”
After grinding, and before brewing, there’s another beauty shot moment of a fresh mound of tiny ground granules that’s quickly upstaged by its intoxicating fragrance.
Gorgeous coffee beans – that shouldn’t be overlooked – on their way to becoming an outstanding cup of joe.
Poppy loves her food and loves to lick-and-lick-and-lick the bowl clean. Now she can do that to her heart's content without chasing that bowl across the floor. That's because of the sticking power of her her new ezpz Happy Bowl.
This product was not designed for dogs but it certainly works to keep a bowl stuck to the floor while our dog dines in her energetic mode. It would also work for a dog or cat who spills their water or pushes food around. (Our Maggie Mae loved to push food away.)
We have some small stainless steel restaurant supply prep bowls that pop into the ezpz perfectly. (We bought the prep bowls in an Asian market and they are 4 11/16 inches wide.) Since we weigh Poppy's food, they work well for us on our kitchen scale.
It does take longer to feed our little Poppy now, since she will spend a good five minutes in non-stop, high-speed licking once the dish is empty. (The photo above gives you some idea of her licking skill. That is a pink tongue cleaning the outside of her pink bowl.) We love watching her enjoy her food right down to the very last "maybe there is some left over here" lick.
Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.
Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.
Sixteen trees on these blocks will be removed. Here's what the sign on that tree says.
Or as they said in the letter The Garden Club of the Back Bay sent us:
"Dear Neighbors,
In the next few weeks the Garden Club of the Back Bay and the City of Boston will begin the first phase of a project to improve the streetscape of Clarendon Street. As many of you have noticed, the trees on the two blocks between Beacon and Commonwealth have been in steady decline due to salt sensitivity and are now mostly dead, and an eyesore. The Boston Parks and Recreation Department has agreed to remove the trees and the Garden Club has agreed to replant all 16 locations with very handsome, large Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’ specimen trees in the spring of 2016. These trees are ancient, immune to most urban tree problems, are not salt sensitive, and have beautiful fall color. They will be interesting to you and to all the children using the Playground every day.
This is a big project, but Clarendon Street is an important entrance portal in to the Back Bay and should be beautiful. The Garden Club hopes you will help us fund this work. Tree sponsorships are $2,500 per tree and include plaques which can be installed on the tree fences. What a nice holiday, birthday, or anniversary present! All donations of any size are welcome and needed so we may complete this work in the spring. Contributions are completely tax deductible.
We hope you will consider contributing. We want you to know our plans in advance of the chainsaws arriving! Your checks can be made to the Garden Club of the Back Bay and mailed to M. Pokorny, 384 Marlborough St, Boston, MA 02115. You may also donate with a credit card on our website, www.gardenclubbackbay.org – just press the Donate button and we will acknowledge your contribution right away.
Sixteen trees on these blocks will be removed. Here's what the sign on that tree says.
Or as they said in the letter The Garden Club of the Back Bay sent us:
"Dear Neighbors,
In the next few weeks the Garden Club of the Back Bay and the City of Boston will begin the first phase of a project to improve the streetscape of Clarendon Street. As many of you have noticed, the trees on the two blocks between Beacon and Commonwealth have been in steady decline due to salt sensitivity and are now mostly dead, and an eyesore. The Boston Parks and Recreation Department has agreed to remove the trees and the Garden Club has agreed to replant all 16 locations with very handsome, large Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’ specimen trees in the spring of 2016. These trees are ancient, immune to most urban tree problems, are not salt sensitive, and have beautiful fall color. They will be interesting to you and to all the children using the Playground every day.
This is a big project, but Clarendon Street is an important entrance portal in to the Back Bay and should be beautiful. The Garden Club hopes you will help us fund this work. Tree sponsorships are $2,500 per tree and include plaques which can be installed on the tree fences. What a nice holiday, birthday, or anniversary present! All donations of any size are welcome and needed so we may complete this work in the spring. Contributions are completely tax deductible.
We hope you will consider contributing. We want you to know our plans in advance of the chainsaws arriving! Your checks can be made to the Garden Club of the Back Bay and mailed to M. Pokorny, 384 Marlborough St, Boston, MA 02115. You may also donate with a credit card on our website, www.gardenclubbackbay.org – just press the Donate button and we will acknowledge your contribution right away.
from here to support this site!
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